I'm running Windows XP (SP3) on a Dell Inspiron DESKTOP purchased about 3 years ago. I've had intermittent keyboard problems from the beginning: Each morning when I start it up, the keyboard might work fine, or a single key (e.g., Escape or a random letter or number) might not function. I've tried several keyboards and the problem persists, so it doesn't appear to be the hardware. Everything looks OK in Device Manager (except for the fact that I now seem to have duplicate keyboard devices LISTED), and when I tried to reinstall the keyboard driver from my disk, Windows refused, saying my current driver was up to DATE. I've also tried several different USBports, all of which work fine with other devices. I’m stumped!1) Have you tried connecting via the ps2 connector?
2) What happens in safe mode?Thanks for the prompt response. The problem started with PS2 keyboards that I connected with the help of a USB adapter (because my computer has no PS2 port). I went through several keyboards and several adapters before giving up and switching to a USB keyboard . . . only to discover that the problem persisted.

Because the problem is intermittent, though, and all keys work fine sometimes, I'm not sure what I would learn by starting up in safe mode.You would learn if it's a driver issue or not for starters...I meant that everything might work OK in safe mode, but that wouldn't necessarily prove anything since the problem doesn't show up every TIME. But let's say that a key or two fails when I'm in safe mode. Does that mean it is or isn't a driver at fault?No.
What Allan is suggesting is if there are no issues in safemode then for sure it;s the driver...
Why not try it and see ? ?Thanks for persisting. I started up in safe mode and, sure enough, two keys didn't work. So what can we conclude from this, and what's my next step?New keyboard...I've tried four or five keyboards -- PS/2s (with adapter) and USBs (like the current one), brand new ones and older ones that worked fine with other COMPUTERS -- and the problem shows up with every single one. That's why I ruled out hardware as the cause long ago.